Girls Tennis Builds on Momentum to Tie for First in Division

Sophomores Dianna Albek and Madison Arez were a tough combo, finishing 9-1 on the season as first doubles. *Photos: Lara Davidovich*

By MARTINO PIERRE and MARVENS CELIUS

The Girls Tennis Team fought valiantly but ultimately fell short 3-2 in a close battle against Stuyvesant in the second round of the playoffs at the Midwood Athletic Complex on October 27.

Midwood stung first with a stunning performance from Isabella Mai ’28, who won 8-1 in the first singles match. Things looked like smooth sailing as Midwood struck again, winning their second singles match through strong play from Meela Enukidze ‘26.

But Stuyvesant gained some ground when their third singles player, Ia Sofocleous, defeated junior Taylor Chin, and they leveled the score 2-2 by securing a tight 8-6 victory in the first doubles match.

“Everyone was watching us, so we felt nervous, and there were a lot of shots that we felt like we could've made, but we didn’t," said sophomore Madison Arez.

Ultimately, Stuy was able to pull off the improbable comeback against the Lady Hornets in a pressure-packed environment, with an 8-5 win in the final set of the match.

Despite the disappointing end, it’s been a strong year for the girls, who tied their rival Brooklyn Tech for first in the division with their best campaign in recent memory.

The season started poorly, with a loss to Tech 3-2 on September 16, but the team quickly rebounded with a five-game win streak, including road wins against Fort Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln.

“We all knew that we wanted to win,” said senior captain Gabrielle Bell. “Keeping that one idea in mind, it was very easy to continue how we did in the season.”

A sobering moment for the team came against James Madison on October 9, where they lost 5-0 away from home.

Managing expectations has been a key lesson. “Sometimes when you put expectations too high on yourself, it makes you not play your best,” said Bell.

The team struggled to stay upbeat after the loss, but senior Mariella Pinsky said their earlier energy helped them rebound. “Everybody was down after the game, but we kept our momentum going from before, and we were able to win the next one,” she said.

The team finished the season on a 3-0 run, with resounding 5-0 wins against Fort Hamilton and Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, many players feel their most monumental win was their 3-2 revenge match against Brooklyn Tech.

“Having that game where we pulled through was really exciting,” said Chin.

Even at home, the girls felt like the underdog, which seemed to be a fair assessment after they dropped the first two singles matches. However, a 9-7 victory by Bell reinvigorated the team and got them believing. After Midwood won both doubles matches, the comeback was complete.

“That was one of the most important games of the season,” said Head Coach Jane Chen. “I was really proud of my girls.”

They finished with an impressive 8-2 record and rolled into the playoffs hot, although they were unfortunately unable to capitalize on it.

Team members credited this year’s improvement to dedication, discipline, and team spirit. The belief in their capabilities was instilled into them by Ms. Chen, who is now in her second year of coaching tennis. Bell described her as a relaxed leader who communicates expectations clearly to the players. “She was clear about [drills and performance] without beating us in the head,” she said.

“[Ms. Chen] really helped us ground ourselves,” said Pinsky. “She introduced a lot of drills, and our record was really good this year.”

Standout players helped propel them to success: Mai was one of them. In just her second year on the team, she won eight out of her ten sets and was able to make first singles despite being a sophomore.

The newly formed doubles duo of Arez and Dianna Albek ‘28 also impressed, going a stunning 9-1 in the regular season, with their only loss coming against James Madison.

Overall, the team was formidable, and their record made a major jump after finishing 5-5 last year and 3-9 in 2023-2024. Ms. Chen attributes the team’s gains to the work ethic of her players.

“I really give all the credit to my girls,” she said. “They put in a lot of sweat, a lot of tears. It's the dedication that's making them improve.”

Despite the playoff loss, the Lady Hornets are ready for next season, with promising players on board. They are sure to be back for more and will have their eyes set on silverware in the future.